In a bid to help draw the attention of the general public to the
issue of irregular migration to Europe, IOM is lending its support
to a week-long music and cultural event on the Italian island of
Lampedusa where every year, nearly 20,000 irregular migrants
arrive.

The event, which takes place between 23-29 September, and
incorporating concerts, cultural activities and a roundtable, has
been organized by the Italian foundation O' Scià. Although
the foundation was only formally set up by the renowned Italian
artist Claudio Baglioni last December, a concert has been organized
on Lampedusa each year since 2003 with Baglioni joined on stage by
other popular Italian artists.

"This is an important initiative in informing public opinion on
the tragic events taking place in the Mediterranean where, every
year, countless numbers of irregular migrants die trying to reach
Europe or who suffer great abuse in the attempt," says Peter
Schatzer, IOM's Regional Representative for the Mediterranean
countries. "Behind the statistics reported in the media are the
stories of real people. It's critical that correct and balanced
information is provided to the general public on migration issues
and an event like O' Scià can help a long way in doing
that."

In addition to concerts by various Italian artists, other
performances include an entertainment show and the showing of films
on migration issues in cooperation with the Ministry of Social
Solidarity.  A roundtable on 28 September will focus on
Integration, Dialogue, Solidarity and Rights. Participants include
European Union (EU) Vice President, Franco Frattini, a
representative from the Italian Ministry of the Interior, the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),
Comunità di Sant'Egidio, World Islamic Call Society and
Peter Schatzer from IOM in addition to O'Scià founder,
Claudio Baglioni.

The Lampedusa event is the second held by O'Scià this
summer, supported by the Italian government and regional and local
authorities as well as organizations such as IOM, UNHCR and the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO). In August, a similar event was held in Malta, also a
destination point for irregular migration.

For further information, please contact:

Flavio Di Giacomo

IOM Rome

Tel: +39 06 44 186 207

E-mail: "mailto:fdigiacomo@iom.int">fdigiacomo@iom.int